Skid-loader bucket accessory

ABSTRACT

A digging attachment for a skid steer loader which comprises a bucket, a shaft mounted cutter reel and a drive means. The drive means is operatively connected to the bucket and the powered cutter reel. The powered cutter reel includes a plurality of digging members which may be rotated about the shaft of the cutter reel when the drive means is activated so as to dig into soil and draw the soil into the bucket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisionalapplication No. 60/175,629, filed Jan. 12, 2000, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to a hydraulically operated attachment fora front-end loader. The invention is designed specifically forattachment to smaller construction vehicles such as skid steer loaders.The present invention is directed to a concept for a new soil excavationimplement and bucket attached to the skid steers and similar sizetractors that will enable the skid steers to be used to excavate invirgin soils or similarly compacted earth while avoiding the problemsdescribed above. The overall function of this inventive excavationimplement and bucket is to perform small earth moving work which iscomprised of cutting, transporting, dumping and grading materials. It isnot intended for loading trucks.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] Skid steer loaders are relatively small hydraulic wheel loaderswith a lifting boom that can be easily fitted with a variety ofattachments by means of a lock-on mechanism commonly known as aquick-tach. In addition to the lifting action of the boom there is adumping pivot action on the boom end. When equipped with a bucket theskid steer loader may be used for digging, pulverizing material,transporting material, and grading.

[0007] In addition to a variety of types of buckets, there are manyother attachments which may be affixed to the lifting boom such astrenchers, augers, brooms, rototillers, vibratory rollers, cold planers,jack hammers, back hoes, etc. Attachments such as rototillers andaugers, are powered by hydraulic motors in addition to the boom lift anddump actions These motors are generally driven by oil pumped from theskid steer loader hydraulic system through quick disconnect hoseconnections.

[0008] There has been rapid development of accessory power attachmentsfor a skid steer machine. The skid steer machines as known generallyhave a surplus of hydraulic power for use with any desired type ofaccessory. As equipped with digging buckets, and operating like aconventional wheel loader, skid steers consume only a small fraction oftheir available horsepower. The majority of the total horsepower isavailable for the powered attachments. So as with basic tractors, skidsteers are power dense, relative to their size.

[0009] Therefore, skid steers are basically a multi-function poweredunit, capable of performing a wide variety of tasks. However, theperformance of the skid loader is typically reduced during work such asin the digging of established soil. In these instances the skid loadershave more than enough horsepower for this task, however, they simplydon't have sufficient traction to excavate established soil. A skidloader used for digging established soil may experience difficultiessuch as the spinning of tires which dig pockets and pile up mounds. Asthe loader runs over these obstructions, it is bounced and pitched whichfurther hampers traction as well as interfering with the ability tocontrol the cutting process of the bucket. There are many small scaleexcavating jobs which allow access to nothing larger than a skid steer,yet the digging capability of the skid steer is not sufficient for thetask. Often, in these cases, back hoes are used for the digging and theskid steer loader is used to transport and grade the excavated-material.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] This invention provides for a unique skid steer bucket which isequipped with a powered cutter reel, set crosswise, and positioned aheadof the bucket floor cutting edge. The reel cutter may have manyrectangular knives which strike the ground flatwise, like paddles. Thereel turns in a climb cutting rotation to the ground. In other words,the top of the reel moves forward so that the bottom is cutting soil andthrowing the soil back into the bucket from the bottom side of the reel.There may be some cases where it would be preferable to reverse the reelrotation so that it throws the soil over the top, and consequently,higher into the bucket.

[0011] The cutting reel may be mounted in a pair of shock resistantsealed bearings positioned on each side of the bucket. At one end of thereel shaft is located a roller chain sprocket with a roller chain orother connection means running to the rear of the bucket just outside ofthe bucket end wall. At the rear of the bucket, the chain connects to adrive sprocket of a hydraulic motor.

[0012] In at least one embodiment of the invention the hydraulic motoris enclosed in a protective housing positioned within the confines ofthe bucket. The hydraulic motor may be powered from the tractorauxiliary or high flow hydraulic system through the use of quickdisconnect hose couplings. The operator control for the reel drive motorallows the cutter reel to be engaged forwardly, stopped, or reversed. Ifnecessary, a speed control may be added to the motor.

[0013] The basic bucket floor cutting edge follows directly behind thecutting reel, at approximately the same elevation as the cut path of thecutting reel. However the bucket cutting edge does not cut virgin earth,it merely serves as an apron to receive the earth that is kicked off ofthe reel. The actual floor of the cut pass may be made exclusively bythe knives of the spinning cutter reel. The cutting reel generally doesnot cut the end zones located outside of the bucket which are occupiedby the bearings and especially the chain and sprocket. So the structurethat supports and protects the bearings and sprocket must plow throughthe ground without the aid of the cutting reel.

[0014] A piercing point is positioned forwardly to each of the bearingsupport structures where the piercing points function as plows to reducethe force required to penetrate the undisturbed soil. These points mayhave a wide variety of characteristics. In at least one embodiment ofthe invention the points may be chisel shaped, set flat to the ground,and may be a few inches wide so that they cut and lift the soil justahead of the bearing support structures. The chisels cut the form of thecomers where the cut pass sides meet the cut pass floor. In addition tothe bottom cutting chisels, the piercing points may be fitted with sidecutting knives. Together, the side knife and bottom chisel of eachpiercing point shears each corner of the cut pass, forcing the materialupward and inward, making it accessible to the cutter reel.

[0015] The two corner piercing points pierce and lift the undisturbedsoil just ahead of the cutter reel end bearings. The reaction to thelifting action tends to suck the bucket deeper into the ground. Thisdownward pull of the bucket is countered by the climbing rotation of thereel cutter which tends to lift the bucket upward. As these two forceswork against each other, they combine into a third resultant forcedirection that tends to pull the bucket forward, adding to the piercingforce of the points. In this way, the cutter reel not only breaks thesoil encountered as the tractor pushes it forward, but adds to the pushof the tractor by pulling itself forward, into the soil.

[0016] Usually the size of a skid steer bucket is limited by thetractor's ability to force it to cut, and the potential instability oflifting a loaded bucket for placement of aggregate within a truck. Theuse of the cutter reel on a bucket provides for a cutting force from anindependent powered cutter as opposed to forward penetration of a bucketcutting edge, and because a bucket equipped with a cutter reel is notintended to be lifted high for loading trucks, its capacity can berelatively higher, thus maximizing its transport function. Therefore,this new bucket may have a capacity of one cubic yard or more when usedon mid to large size skid steer loaders.

[0017] Compared to typical skid steer buckets, this new bucket cutterreel combination permits use of a taller and shorter bucket from frontto back. The cutter reel preferably throws soil high enough to fill ataller bucket. The throwing of soil preferably places the center of massof the load as close as possible to the tractor to reduce forwardtipping forces which may result from the cantilevered load weight on thetractor.

[0018] In operation, this bucket cutter reel combination is advancedinto the cut with the cutter reel under full power. The cuter reelthrows the soil up, into the bucket, pulverizing it in the process. Ifthe cutter reel encounters a rock that is too large to pass between thecutter reel center shaft and the bucket cutting edge, the cutter reelwill simply stall actuating an operation circuit into bypass. Anoperator may then toggle the cuter reel to reverse, thereby unjammingthe clog. If the obstruction is too large, the operator must work aroundit.

[0019] Once the bucket is full, it may be elevated a sufficient distanceto clear the ground, whereupon the cutter reel may be disengaged. Thebucket may be moved to the dumping location and tipped to the dumpposition to disperse transported material. Material may either be dumpedin one pile or dumped while moving in order to spread it over a desiredarea. During the dump cycle, the soil maybe further pulverized byrunning the cutter reel, allowing the soil to pass through the cutterreel as it falls out of the bucket. This second pass of material throughthe rotating cutter facilitates production of a uniform rate of dumpingwhich aids the grading and finishing process.

[0020] As previously explained, the purpose of the cutter reel is toreduce the tractive effort needed to fill the bucket, however, a secondbenefit is the inevitable soil pulverization. Soil pulverizationfacilitates a bucket being filled without voids for efficienttransportation, and the pulverized soil is easier to spread and grade.During the grading process, the bucket may be set in the cuttingposition (with the bucket floor flat to the ground), with the cutterrunning in reverse. The cutter may then kick the soil ahead for furtherpulverization while having the effect of dozing the soil forward as ameans of transport and/or spreading. This technique may be used forlight cutting in virgin earth whereby the soil is cut and kicked forwardby the cutting reel, forming a heap which is being constantly regroundas it is pushed forward. This process is called dynamic dozing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] A detailed description of the invention is hereafter describedwith specific reference being made to the drawings in which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a close-up partially cut-away perspective view of theembodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a reverse partially cut-away perspective view of theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a top down view of an embodiment of the invention;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention depictedin its operational environment; and

[0027]FIG. 6 is an alternative perspective view of an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The present invention, as may be seen in FIG. 1 is referred to asa self loading bucket or dog bucket and is indicated generally at 10.Dog bucket 10 further comprises a bucket 12 of a skid loader such as aBobcat® or a tractor.

[0029] The bucket 12 includes a frame 14 comprising a floor 16, a backwall 18, and a pair of side walls 20 and 22. The bucket 12 may becomposed of a variety of materials but is typically steel or an alloythereof. The side walls 20 and 22 include shock resistant sealed bearingsupports 24 for rotatably mounting the shaft 26 of a cutter real 28.Alternatively, the side walls 20, 22, may each include an apertureadapted to receive the shaft 26 where the shock resistant sealed bearingsupports 24 are positioned adjacent to and exterior of the side walls20, 22. In another alternative embodiment, one set of shock resistantbearing supports 24 may be positioned forwardly of the leading edge ofeach of the respective side walls 20, 22. Side wall 20 includes a drivemechanism 70 which includes a roller chain sprocket 30 provided at oneend of the cutter reel 28, a drive sprocket 32, and one or more supportsprockets 72. The drive mechanism 70 may be integral with and/orreleasably secured to the exterior of the side wall 20. In theembodiment shown the drive mechanism 70 is chain driven by drive chain54. Alternatively, the drive chain 54 may be replaced with a belt driveand/or other drive mechanism to impart rotation to the cutter reel 28during use of the self-loading bucket 10. The drive sprocket 32 is inmechanical communication with a hydraulic motor 34 (shown in FIG. 2) andis generally positioned at the back and to the interior of the bucket12. Alternatively, the hydraulic motor 34 may be positioned to the rearof the bucket 12 and affixed to the exterior of the back wall 14. Inthis embodiment, the drive sprocket 32 is preferably positionedproximate to the side wall 20 and rearwardly to the back wall 18. Thehydraulic motor 34 is preferably powered by the tractor auxiliaryhydraulic flow system (not shown). The bucket floor 16 extends to thefront 36 of bucket 12 to form a cutting edge 38. The cutting edge 38 mayserve as an apron to receive soil thrown into the bucket 12 from thecutter real 28.

[0030] The powered cutter reel 28 is positioned forwardly to the cuttingedge 38 of the bucket floor 16. The cutter reel 28 has a shaft 26 and aplurality of digging members 40 which function like paddles for removalof soil. The digging members 40 may include a variety of shapes andsizes as well as arrangements. In the embodiment shown the diggingmembers 40 may be characterized as a plurality of rectangular knives.The cutter reel 28 may be rotated in a clockwise manner such that thepaddles 40 cut downward into the soil and throw soil backwards into thebucket 12. The direction of the cutter real 28 may be reversed for thepurpose of dislodging blockages or dispersing soil from within thebucket 12 onto the ground or for other purposes as may be desired.

[0031] The cutter real 28 and the components thereof are typicallyconstructed from metal such as steel or an alloy thereof, however, othermaterials may also be utilized such as, titanium, iron, etc.

[0032] The cutter real 28 is adapted for operation via a drive such asthe hydraulic motor 34, as may best be seen in FIG. 2. The hydraulicmotor 34 is preferably in fluid communication with the auxiliaryhydraulic system of the skid loader (not shown) by way of hydraulic feedlines 42 which may be equipped with quick connect/disconnect ends 44,such as may be seen in FIG. 3.

[0033] As may be seen in FIG. 2 the hydraulic motor 34 may be positionedwithin the bucket 12. However, in order to protect the motor 34 fromdirt and debris which would other wise fill the bucket 12 during use,the hydraulic motor 34 is preferably contained in a protective housingor motor house 46, such as may be seen in FIG. 1.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the motor house 46 islocated in a back corner of the bucket 12, against the floor 16, theback wall 18 and side wall 20, as such, the motor house 46 may be athree sided structure which completely covers the motor 34 and may bewelded and/or bolted to the adjacent bucket surfaces 16, 18 and 20.Alternatively, one or more cleats 48, such as may be seen in FIG. 2, maybe pre-welded into the bucket 12. The housing 46 may then also be boltedand/or welded to the cleat 48 as shown.

[0035] As indicated above, the hydraulic motor 34 may be hydraulicallypowered by hydraulic feed lines 42 which lead from the hydraulic motor34 to the hydraulic fluid pumping system of the skid steer loader. Asmay be seen in FIG. 3, the hydraulic lines 42 extend from the hydraulicmotor through an opening 50 in the back wall 18 of the bucket 12. Thehydraulic lines 42 may extend several feet from the motor. In order toprotect the hydraulic lines 42 from potential damage the lines 42 may beenclosed in-part by a hose duct or guard 52. The hose duct 52 enclosesthe lines 42 as they pass out of the opening 50 and extend along theback wall 18 of the bucket 12. The hose duct 52 may be constructed fromany type of suitable protective material, including but not limited to,steel, particularly light gauge steel. The hose duct 52 may be boltedand/or welded to the bucket 12.

[0036] The hydraulic motor 34, shown in FIG. 2, is engaged to the drivesprocket 32 which is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3. The hydraulic motor 34,may be engaged to the drive sprocket 32 by a shaft 80 which preferablypasses through the side wall 20 proximate to the hydraulic motor 34.Alternatively, the hydraulic motor 34 may be positioned rearwardly tothe back wall 18. If the hydraulic motor 34 is positioned rearwardly tothe back wall 18 then the drive sprocket 32 is also required to bepositioned rearwardly to the back wall 18. In the embodiment shown, thedrive sprocket 32 is operatively engaged to the roller chain sprocket 30by a drive chain 54. While the embodiment of the cutter real 28 is chaindriven via a hydraulic motor 34, in alternative embodiments the cutterreal 28 may be directly hydraulically driven, belt driven, or shaftdriven as may be desired.

[0037] Turning back to FIG. 1, it may be seen that each of the sidewalls 20 and 22 may also include a piercing point 56. Each piercingpoint 56 may be integral to the bucket frame 14 or may be welded and/orbolted thereon. The piercing points 56 extend horizontally from thefront 36 of the bucket 12. The piercing points 56 may include a chiselshaped edge 58 which is designed to cut and lift the soil ahead ofbearing supports 24. In addition, side cutting knives/plows 60, as maybest be seen in FIG. 4, also force soil upwardly and inwardly away fromthe bearing supports 24. Alternatively, a standard bucket 12 may beutilized for retrofitting to include the frame 14 and cutter reel 28. Inthis embodiment, the frame 14 includes forwardly located piercing points56 where one piercing point 56 is preferably positioned to each sidewall 20, 22 forwardly of, and proximate to, the cutting edge 38.

[0038] In FIG. 4, a cover or bonnet 62 may be seen mounted to the frame14. The bonnet may be welded and/or bolted, or otherwise fastened to thebucket frame 14. The bonnet 62 is a light weight enclosure that isplaced on the bucket 12 to provide greater soil containment ability.Because the bonnet 62 is not subjected to active soil digging or pushingpressures, the bonnet may be made of a variety of materials such assteel, but may also be made of lighter weight materials such as aluminumor even plastic. In general, as may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bonnet62 includes a pair of upwardly and inwardly extending angled sides 82and upwardly and forwardly extending back wall 64 and a horizontallyextending roof 84 as engaged to the back wall 64 and angled sides 82. Ingeneral, the bonnet 62 may be in the shape of a standard non-modifiedproduction bucket for a skid or front end loader. It should be notedthat other shapes may be utilized for the bonnet 62 at the discretion ofan individual. In general, the bonnet 62 may be secured to the top ofthe frame 14 and back wall 18 through the use of bolts and nuts and/orwelding. Alternatively, any desired type of permanent and/or releasablemechanical fastener may be utilized to secure the bonnet 62 to the frame14 and the back wall 18 at the discretion of an individual. The backwall 64 of the bonnet 62 may include a window or grate 66 to allow thetractor or skid loader operator the ability to see into the bucket 12and visually monitor the load and the cutting action of the cutter real28. Alternatively, where the bonnet 62 is constructed of plastic, theplastic may be clear to provide a clear line of sight from the operatorinto the bucket 12.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the bonnet 62 myextend forward to act as a guard for the cutter real 28. Alternatively,a separate guard assembly may be attached to the frame 14 to partiallycover the cutter real 28 thereby preventing accidental contact with thecutter blades 40 from above.

[0040] Turning to FIG. 5, the dog bucket 10 is depicted in operation.During operation, the action of the dog bucket 10 causes the bucket 12to be sucked into the ground. This action is countered by the climbingforces resulting from the rotation of the reel 28 which in combinationpull the bucket 12 forwardly through the soil 68. The piercing points 56and side cutting knives/plows 60 also move soil 68 inwardly along thedrive mechanism 70 and bearings 24 into the interior of the bucket 12.The rotating action of the cutter reel 28 and knives/paddles 40 functionto break apart established soil for movement into the bucket 12. Thebucket floor 16 cutting edge 38 is therefore provided with the abilityto have an enhanced depth for removal of soil.

[0041] In an alternative embodiment as may be depicted in FIG. 6, theframe 14 may be mechanically secured to a standard bucket 12 of a skidor front end loader. The frame 14 in this embodiment is generally formedof a first cutter reel support 90 and a second cutter reel support 92.The first and second cutter reel supports 90, 92 may be respectivelysecured to the side walls 20, 22 by the use of bolts and/or welding orany other secure mechanical fasteners. The first cutter reel support 90preferably includes the features of the roller chain sprocket 30, drivesprockets 32, drive mechanisms 70, and support sprockets 72 as earlierdescribed.

[0042] The first and second cutter reel supports 90, 92 preferably eachinclude the bearing supports 24 for support of the shaft 26 and cutterreel 28 as earlier described. In addition, each of the first and secondcutter reel supports 90, 92 each preferably include a piercing point 56,chisel shaped edge 58, and knife plows 60 as earlier described.

[0043] In this embodiment, a standard skid or front end loader bucket 12is modified or retrofitted to include the first and second cutter reelsupports 90, 92 and cutter reel 28.

[0044] The first side wall 20 is therefore required to receive at leastone aperture to accommodate the shaft 80 of the hydraulic motor 34 asengaged to the drive sprocket 32. A second aperture may also be requiredfor receipt of the bearing supports 24 and shaft 26 as connected to theroller chain sprocket 30 and cutter reel 28. Alternatively, the firstcutter reel support 90 may be secured to the side wall 20 by weldingand/or bolts and nuts where the first cutter reel support 90 includesthe bearing supports 24 positioned within an aperture for support of theshaft 26 as connected to the roller chain sprocket 30 and cutter reel 28which are preferably positioned forwardly of the leading edge of theside walls 20, 22. It should be noted that the second cutter reelsupport 92 is preferably attached in an identical location relative tothe side wall 22. The side wall 22 may therefore be required to includean aperture to receive bearing supports 24 and shaft 26 of the cutterreel 28.

[0045] The hydraulic motor 34 in this embodiment is preferablypositioned interior to the bucket 12 proximate to the side wall 20 andback wall 18 as earlier described.

[0046] The other features as identified herein may also be preferablyincluded for retrofit of a standard skid or front end loader bucket 12to accommodate the attachment of the cutter reel 28 excavation accessoryas illustrated and disclosed herein.

[0047] In addition to being directed to the embodiments described aboveand claimed below, the present invention is further directed toembodiments having different combinations of the features describedabove and claimed below. As such, the invention is also directed toother embodiments having any other possible combination of the dependentfeatures claimed below.

[0048] The above examples and disclosure are intended to be illustrativeand not exhaustive. These examples and description will suggest manyvariations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. Allthese alternatives and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the attached claims. Those familiar with the art may recognizeother equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein whichequivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims attachedhereto.

1. A combination digging attachment and bucket for a skid steer loadersaid bucket comprising: a floor, a back wall, a first side wall and asecond side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall extendinghorizontally, said floor having a cutting edge, the first side wall andthe second side wall each having a bearing support; Said diggingattachment comprising: a shaft mounted cutter reel, the cutter realhaving: a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a first end and asecond end, the first end of the shaft rotatably engaged to the bearingsupport of the first side wall, the second end of the shaft rotatablyengaged to the bearing support of the second side wall, the shaft beingmounted forward of the cutting edge of the floor, and a plurality ofdigging members, the plurality of digging members disposed about thesurface of the shaft and projecting outwardly therefrom; and a drivemotor, the drive motor engaged to the bucket, the drive motoroperatively engaged to the cutter reel, whereby when the drive motor isactivated, the rotatable shaft and digging members are rotated at apredetermined rate of rotation.
 2. The digging attachment of claim 1wherein rotation of the rotatable shaft also rotates the plurality ofdigging members, urging the digging members into soil and drawing thesoil into the bucket.
 3. The digging attachment of claim 1 wherein thedrive motor is a hydraulic motor.
 4. The digging attachment of claim 1wherein the hydraulic motor is in fluid communication with a hydraulicsystem of a skid steer loader.
 5. The digging attachment of claim 3further comprising a chain drive, the chain drive operatively connectingthe hydraulic motor to the rotatable shaft of the cutter reel.
 6. Thedigging attachment of claim 5 wherein the chain drive is operativelypositioned proximate to the first side wall.
 7. The digging attachmentof claim 5 wherein the chain drive further comprises: a drive sprocket,the drive sprocket being rotatably engaged to the hydraulic motor; achain sprocket, the chain sprocket being rotatably engaged to therotatable shaft; a drive chain, the drive chain in continuous engagementwith the drive sprocket and the chain sprocket.
 8. The diggingattachment of claim 7 wherein the chain drive further comprises at leastone support sprocket, the at least one support sprocket being positionedbetween the chain sprocket and the drive sprocket.
 9. The diggingattachment of claim 1 wherein the bucket further comprises a frame, theframe supporting the floor, the back wall, the first side wall and thesecond side wall,
 10. The digging attachment of claim 9 wherein theshaft of the cutter real is removably retained by the frame.
 11. Thedigging attachment of claim 9 wherein at least two piercing points aremounted on the frame, the piercing points extending in a substantiallyhorizontal manner outward from the frame, the piercing pointsconstructed and arranged to uplift soil ahead of the cutter reel. 12.The digging attachment of claim 1 wherein each of the side walls furthercomprise a horizontally extending piercing point.
 13. The diggingattachment of claim 12 wherein each of the piercing points are chiselshaped.
 14. The digging attachment of claim 13 wherein the piercingpoints are constructed and arranged to penetrate, uplift, and directsoil into the bucket.
 15. The digging attachment of claim 1 wherein thedrive motor is positioned interior to said bucket, adjacent to the firstside wall.
 16. The digging attachment of claim 15 wherein the drivemotor is further positioned adjacent to the back wall.
 17. The diggingattachment of claim 16 wherein the drive motor is further positionedadjacent to the floor.
 18. The digging attachment of claim 1 wherein thedrive motor is enclosed within a housing.
 19. The digging attachment ofclaim 17 wherein the drive motor is enclosed within a housing, thehousing having three sides, the housing being engaged to a portion ofthe floor, first side wall and back wall adjacent to the drive motor.20. The digging attachment of claim 18 wherein the bucket furthercomprises at least one cleat, the at least one cleat being securablymounted to the bucket, the housing being engaged to the at least onecleat, thereby securing the housing thereagainst.
 21. The diggingattachment of claim 18 wherein the housing is mounted against the backwall, the back wall further comprising an opening.
 22. The diggingattachment of claim 21 wherein the drive motor is hydraulic, thehydraulic motor having at least one hydraulic hose, the at least onehydraulic hose constructed and arranged to be fluidly engaged to aauxiliary hydraulic system of said skid steer loader.
 23. The diggingattachment of claim 22 wherein the at least one hydraulic hose extendsfrom the hydraulic motor through the opening.
 24. The digging attachmentof claim 23 wherein the at least one hydraulic hose has a quickconnector end.
 25. The digging attachment of claim 23 further comprisinga hose guard, the hose guard being engaged to a portion of the bucket,the hose guard and the portion of the bucket defining a passage whichenclosed a portion of the at least one hydraulic hose which passestherethrough.
 26. The digging attachment of claim 9 further comprising abonnet, the bonnet defining an enclosure, the enclosure sized to fitonto the frame of the bucket, the enclosure having at least one opening.27. The digging attachment of claim 25 wherein the bonnet furthercomprises a bonnet back wall, the bonnet back wall having a view port.28. The digging attachment of claim 27 wherein the view port comprises agrate.
 29. The digging attachment of claim 9 wherein the bonnet isconstructed from at least one of the following materials: steel, steelalloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, plastic, and any combination thereof.30. The digging attachment of claim 1 wherein the cutter real may beactivated to rotate in a clockwise direction, a counter-clockwisedirection, and any combinations thereof.
 31. The digging attachment ofclaim 1 wherein the predetermined rate of rotation may be varied.
 32. Amethod of displacing soil utilizing the digging attachment of claim 1comprising the following steps: connecting the digging attachment to abucket of a front-end loader; moving the front-end loader to apredetermined location, the predetermined location comprising apredetermined quantity of soil; activating the cutter real so that thecutter real is rotated in a clockwise direction; and advancing thedigging attachment into the predetermined quantity of soil, theplurality of digging members being rotated by the drive motor such thatthe plurality of digging members provide a digging action which excavatethe predetermined quantity of soil thereby breaking up the predeterminedquantity of soil resulting in broken up soil, the broken up soil beingthrown into the bucket as a result of the digging action, therebyproviding a predetermined quantity of accumulated soil within thebucket.
 33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step ofreversing the direction of rotation of the cutter assembly therebycausing the predetermined quantity of accumulated soil to be drawn outof the bucket.
 34. A kit for retrofitting a bucket of a skid steerloader, the kit comprising: a shaft mounted cutter reel, the cutter realhaving: a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a first end and asecond end, the first end of the shaft rotatably engaged to a bearingsupport of a first side wall, the second end of the shaft rotatablyengaged to a bearing support of a second side wall, the shaft beingmounted forward of the cutting edge of a floor of the bucket, and aplurality of digging members, the plurality of digging members disposedabout the surface of the shaft and projecting outwardly therefrom; and adrive motor, the drive motor engaged to the bucket, the drive motoroperatively engaged to the cutter reel, whereby when the drive motor isactivated, the rotatable shaft and digging members are rotated at apredetermined rate of rotation.
 35. The kit of claim 34 wherein thefirst side wall is engaged to a first wall of the bucket, and the secondside wall being engaged to a second wall of the bucket, each of thesidewalls having an outwardly extending piercing point, each of thepiercing points extending outwardly away from the bucket and beingsubstantially parallel with the floor of the bucket.
 36. The kit ofclaim 35 wherein each of the piercing points being substantially chiselshaped.
 37. The kit of claim 33 further comprising a drive train, thedrive train being supportively engaged to the first wall of the bucket,the drive train being operatively engaged to the drive motor and therotatable shaft.
 38. The kit of claim 37 further comprising a protectivecover, the protective cover configured to engage the first wall of thebucket thereby covering the drive train.